Villagers sheltering at monasteries return home to Maungtaw, Buthidaung

Villagers are seen on their way back to native villages in Maungtaw Township. Photo: Myawady

MORE than 160 people from 41 households were sent back home of their own accord last Friday and 136 more were sent yesterday to their villages in Maungtaw Township.
These movements represent the first two batches out of 409 family members from 115 households sheltering at the Aungmyay Bodhi Monastery in Maungtaw following the October-9 violent attacks on border outposts in the township.
Meanwhile, authorities said yesterday that teachers who returned home during the holiday will be recalled by 24 October when the schools reopen after October holidays.
At a meeting held at the Rakhine State Cabinet’s Guest House in Sittwe yesterday, U Aung Than Oo, director-general of the Basic Education Department said, “Now that the area gained stability, schools will be reopened on 24 October, after October Holidays. For this, teachers who returned home during the holiday will be recalled in time for schools’ regular term.”
At the meeting plans for locals who fled in fear from Buthitaung and Maungtaw region were made. It was decided that those people will be supplied with needed aid by respective ministries.
The meeting was attended by Union Ministers Lt-Gen Ye Aung, Dr Win Myat Aye, Rakhine State Chief Minister U Nyi Pu, State Cabinet’s ministers and departmental officials.
Dr Soe Lwin Nyein, director-general of Public Health Department asserted that doctors, nurses and health staff have been giving medical help to the residents in Buthitaung Maungtaw region around the clock and more staff would be sent if needed.
“As now is the time for paddy to be harvested, manually-pulled reaping machines will be delivered to the areas and training to use modernised reaping methods will be conducted.” said Union Minister Dr Win Myat Aye.
Afterward, attendants took part in the discussion, submitting plans to be implemented in Buthitaung Maungtaw region by their departments.
After the meeting, Union Ministers, State Chief Minister and party visited the temporary camp opened for the people who fled their abodes temporarily, assuring that necessary assistance including food and clothing has been given out and the authorities are ready and willing to help those if they return home as the stability of the area has been achieved.
Provisions such as rice, oil, salt, onions, potatoes and etc., have been given out to those who returned home. They replied they had phone contacts with their families and they knew the situation of the area.
They will go back home soon as it is time for them to reap paddy, it is learnt.
The ministers and party inspected the construction of temporary tents, equipping electric power lines, building of insect-proof lakes and public toilets to prevent cholera, 24-hour health-service.
Then the party met with a local Muslim community at the meeting hall of State Cabinet Office, Sittwe.
In the meeting, it was stated that the Union Cabinet is making concerted efforts for the development and stability of Rakhine State and fulfilling necessities, and the government is to find and arrest any offenders
nvolving in the armed attacks and that the government needs Muslims to help the nation by joining in discovering destructive elements.
Starting from 19 October, locals taking shelters at the Aungmyay Bodhi Sasana Yeiktha Monastery, who fled the villages—Phawutchaung, Udaung, Mawrawati, Thayay Konebaung, Kaingyi, Kantharyar, Pyarthar and Aung Mingalar—are being sent to their places of origin.
Presiding Sayadaw of the monastery, Ashin Mani Sara, Union Minister Lt-Gen Ye Aung, Lt-Gen Aung Kyaw Zaw of the office of Defence Services, Maj-Gen Maung Maung Soe, the Commander of Western Command cordially spoke to them.—Myanmar News Agency